Today's Insight
Hong Kong and China: One
Country, One Future? | Will Edwards, The Cipher
Brief
Xi Jinping will make his first visit to Hong Kong as president of China
this week as the territory prepares to commemorate the 20th anniversary
of its handover from Britain to China.
Expert Commentary
Is Hong Kong Losing its
Identity? | Mathew
Wong, Assistant Professor, University of Hong Kong
"I think Hong Kong will gradually become an ordinary Chinese city
without its uniqueness. Hong Kong is constantly integrating with China in
every aspect, e.g., daily Chinese immigrants, Chinese
capital, infrastructure, policy, and the gradual decline of
liberty."
Hong Kong and Beijing: Getting
Back to "Basics" | Richard Bush, Director, Center for East Asia Policy
Studies, Brookings Institution
"The situation now is that not only does the effort to expand the
scope of competitive and popular elections seem to have stalled, but
there are also disturbing signs that Beijing—the central government—wants
to cut back on the political freedoms, civil rights, and the rule of law
in Hong Kong."
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Today's Column: State of Play
Is the U.S. Getting
Outmaneuvered at Sea? | Admiral
James Stavridis, Former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO
"What is happening now is Russia and China are both increasing their
defense budgets dramatically, and they’re both putting a great deal of
money and technological attention into their fleets. Russia will add 100
ships to its fleet between now and the early 2020s. China’s military and
maritime budget is growing equally rapidly."
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Must-Read On The Cipher Brief
Dead Drop: June 30
| Anonymous
UNIFORMLY STUPID:
It is not often you hear an Inspector General describe a decision as
“stupid,” but an editorial in the Military Times newspapers quotes the
Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction saying a decision by
the former Afghan Defense Minister to outfit Afghan troops in “forest
camouflage” uniforms “just simply stupid.” The selection is reportedly a
pattern which “boldly stands out in the vast majority of Afghan
environs.” The U.S. has spent about $28 million on the outfits, even
paying a 40% markup premium. The result, Military Times says, makes
“Afghan troops sharp-dressed targets.” Of course, DoD is no slouch at
making bad choices when it comes to uniforms – for example making sailors
wear “digital blue” camo, which ensures they blend in with the sea if
they fall overboard. That is like designing school crossing guard
uniforms so that they blend in with pavement.
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Podcasts
The Cipher
Brief Daily Podcast
Get a daily rundown of the top security stories and previews of the
exclusive content available on The Cipher Brief.
Listen now - on iTunes
or on our website
15 Minutes
As the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force under President Obama, one of
Deborah Lee James' principal concerns was U.S. advancement in space.
She believes it's mission-critical for the United States to better
protect its satellite communication and missile warning systems. The
Cipher Brief's Fritz Lodge joined Secretary James for a discussion on
the role of U.S. armed forces in space—and some of the game-changing
advancements that may come soon in space-based missile defense.
Listen to 15 Minutes:
Secretary James on Space-Based Missile Defense -
or get it on iTunes
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The Cipher Take
Iraq Declares End of ISIS
Caliphate
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi told his country Thursday that,
after eight months of vicious fighting, the caliphate announced by ISIS
leader Abu Bakr al Baghdad in Mosul over two years ago has fallen. His
comments followed the liberation by Iraqi military forces of the historic
Grand al Nuri Mosque in Mosul, which retreating ISIS forces destroyed
earlier this week. “The return of al Nuri and al Hadba minaret to the
fold of the nation,” said Abadi, “marks the end of the Daesh [ISIS] state
of falsehood.”
The Cipher Take:
Abadi is not entirely correct to
declare the end of ISIS’ caliphate. The group still controls roughly 40
percent of the Old City of Mosul, as well as territory surrounding Tal
Afar to the west of Mosul, as well as other isolated pockets throughout
the country. However, this is a major symbolic victory for Iraq. The
territory that ISIS continues to hold in Mosul represents less than 1
percent of the city, while Iraqi military and paramilitary forces are
encircling Tal Afar. With ISIS’ territorial presence in Iraq, Abadi will
face political and geopolitical battles ahead.
Want more of
The Cipher Take? Read the rest of our analysis on today's headlines
at thecipherbrief.com.
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Former Acting Director, CIA
__________________
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